Nepal Moves Closer to Legal Cannabis Cultivation as Wagle Signals Government Support

Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle has said the government is willing to facilitate the necessary legal framework for the commercial cultivation and medicinal use of cannabis in Nepal. Responding to questions raised by lawmakers during Friday’s National Assembly meeting, Wagle said the Ministry of Finance would provide the necessary support to move the issue forward. Wagle said cannabis should not be viewed solely from the perspective of income generation, employment creation, and government revenue, but also in terms of its medicinal potential and regulated use. He stated that if expert studies establish the feasibility of cannabis cultivation and appropriate laws are formulated to regulate the sector, the Finance Ministry would fully support the initiative. According to Wagle, discussions on the commercial and medicinal use of cannabis have already been taking place, while previous government budgets had also mentioned conducting feasibility studies on the issue. He noted that although cannabis was banned in the past amid pressure from developed countries, several of those countries are now moving toward more open and regulated approaches. Wagle acknowledged that the matter primarily falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs and said he would coordinate with the Home Ministry to advance further studies and legal processes. He added that the Finance Ministry views cannabis cultivation as a potential area for industrial development, employment generation, and increased government revenue, and expressed his commitment to taking initiatives to bring the issue to a concrete conclusion.